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Jurrjens optioned to Norfolk (updated and notes)

The Orioles have officially optioned Jurrjens to Triple-A Norfolk this afternoon after designating him off the 25-man roster yesterday to create a spot for second baseman Brian Roberts, who was activated from the disabled list.

Jurrjens has 72 hours to report to Norfolk, which he intends to do. He'll reenter the Tides' rotation and wait for his next opportunity with the Orioles.

Jurrjens allowed four runs and nine hits in 7 1/3 innings in two games with the Orioles, including one start. He's 5-5 with a 4.06 ERA in 14 starts at Norfolk.

The Orioles couldn't option Jurrjens yesterday because he had spent only one day in the majors after being recalled. His service time prohibited it. He went on optional waivers - a procedural move - and the Orioles had every intention of keeping him in the organization.

Jurrjens remains on the 40-man roster. The term "designated" only applied to his removal from the 25-man roster.

Yes, confusing. But all that matters is Jurrjens will report to Norfolk and resume his role with the team.

Jurrjens signed with the Orioles on Feb. 15 after the Atlanta Braves declined to offer him arbitration. His contract was restructured, going from a major league to minor league deal, due to concerns about his knee following his physical.

Update: Jurrjens is scheduled to start Thursday for the Tides.

Freddy Garcia starts tonight, followed by Jake Arrieta on Tuesday. Wednesday is listed as TBA, and Tsuyoshi Wada starts on Friday.

Notes: For the second straight week, Single-A Frederick catcher and designated hitter Michael Ohlman has been named Carolina League Player of the Week.

Ohlman's batting line was .407/.467/.704 over seven games. He went 11-for-27 with five doubles, a three-run walk-off home run, eight RBIs, three runs scored, three walks and seven strikeouts.

Ohlman has stayed hot since returning from the disabled list on May 23. Last month, he batted .356 with 15 extra-base hits, including five home runs and 17 RBIs.

Ohlman missed six weeks with a shoulder injury he suffered on April 15. In the 35 games since he returned to the lineup, he's second in the league in batting average (.355), walks (23) and extra-base hits (10) and leads the league in triples (four), on-base percentage (.456), slugging percentage (.645) and OPS (1.102).

Per @ESPNResearch: The Orioles-Yankees game last night delivered an 11.7 overnight rating in Baltimore, the highest-rated ESPN or ESPN2 major league game in the market since 2004.